Method and apparatus for removing connecting threads

ABSTRACT

A method for removing connecting threads from multiple strip lace comprising supporting the lace at a plurality of positions along the length of the lace os as to suspend the lace in festoons and drawing the connecting threads away from the lace. The invention also includes apparatus for carrying out the method having means for feeding the lace from a roll over an engaging edge which is intermittently raisable to present the lace individually to a plurality of suspension devices which engage the lace and support it in festoons, the suspension devices being movable in synchronism with raising of the engaging edge, the connecting threads being drawn from the lace by hand or by a rotating grip.

United States Patent [191 Hucknall et a1.

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CONNECTING THREADS 75] Inventors: Roy Beet Hucknall; Barry Skinner,

both of Sutton-in-Ashfield, England [73] Assignee: S. & E. Strauss Limited,

Nottingham, England [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,784

[52] US. Cl. 28/1 CS, 28/17, 28/72 CS [51] Int. Cl D02g 3/00 [58] Field of Search 28/1 CS, 17, 72 CS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,359 [/1960 Cotumaccio 28/1 CS 3,025,583 3/1962 Noble 28/17 X 3,672,011 6/1972 Neth et al. 28/1 CS June 4, 1974 5 7 ABSTRACT A method for removing connecting threads from multiple strip lace comprising supporting the lace at a plurality of positions along the length of the lace 0s as to suspend the lace in festoons and drawing the connecting threads away from the lace. The invention also includes apparatus for carrying out the method having means for feeding the lace from a roll over an engaging edge which is intermittently raisable to present the lace individually to a plurality of suspension devices which engage the lace and support it in festoons, the suspension devices being movable in synchronism with raising of the engaging edge, the connecting threads being drawn from the lace by hand or by a rotating grip.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CONNECTING THREADS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing connecting threads from multiple strip lace.

Multiple strip lace is manufactured in wide pieces each of which is constituted by a plurality of side by side strips each connected to the next strip by a warp chain, which can be removed by pulling to destroy the chain. The connecting threads are usually removed manually, resulting in high labour costs. Machines have been proposed for removing the connecting threads, but have not been satisfactory due to the problems of frequent breaking of threads and the whole machine having to be halted to pick up a broken thread.

The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for removing connecting threads.

In accordance with this invention, a method of removing connecting threads from multiple strip lace comprises supporting the lace at a plurality of positions along its length, so that the lace is suspended in festoons and drawings the connecting threads away from the supported lace.

The invention also resides in apparatus for removing connecting threads from a roll of multiple lace, comprising means for drawing off lengths of lace from the roll, support means comprising a plurality of suspension devices, and means for intermittently engaging the lace with successive suspension devices as the lace is drawn off the roll that the drawn-off lace is suspended in festoons from the suspension devices.

The connecting threads may be drawn off manually, but, preferably, means is provided for engaging the connecting threads and being operable to draw the threads from the festooned lace.

The invention is particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa part of apparatus according to the invention, illustrating initial operation of the apparatusj FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view ofa holder of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apart of the apparatus, showing final operation of the apparatus.

Referring initially to FIG. I, there is shown a frame 11 supporting an upper guide rail 12 and a lower guide rail 13, the two rails being obliquely inclined towards one another and towards a horizontal plane between the guide rails. The frame also mounts an angularly movable control device 14 towards which the guide rails converge.

The opposite side of the apparatus (not shown) is formed identically to that described above so that there are a pair of parallel upper guide rails I2, a pair of parallel lower guide rails 13 and a pair of control devices 14, which operate simultaneously.

A plurality of lace support beams 15 are provided, each comprising an inverted channel-shaped bar 17 provided along its length with a multiplicity of lace holders 16. An extension 18 is mounted at each end of each bar 17, each extension defining a slider 20 provided with an annular groove defining a reduced thickness neck 19 which engages with a guide rail for sliding movement of the support beam 15, under gravity, along the guide rails. A rebate 21 is defined between each extension and the bar 17.

The frame ll mounts a horizontal spindle (not shown) for rotatably supporting a reel of lace 24, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1. A cross-piece 25 of the frame mounts a pair of guide rollers 33, 34 providing a nip therebetween through which lace leading from the reel 24 is passed.

Extending across the apparatus between and below the two control devices 14 is a lifting member 26 having an upper edge 27. The lifting member is carried by a pair of jacks 28, only one being diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1. The lifting member is slidably engaged in a pair of opposite vertical guide slots defined by 5 members 30 at opposite sides of the frame.

Each control device comprises a rotatable disc 32 mounted on a shaft 35, the disc having a recess 37 f or m ed at '5 single position in its periphery. The disc is angularly moved in use, through approximately and the recess is shaped, so as to be engageable with the neck 19 of a beam I5.

In operation of the part of the apparatus so far described, lace from the reel 24 is passed between the rollers 33, 34 whilst one of the beams 15 is held in the recesses 37 of the two control devices 14. The upper guide rails 12 define a loading station on which are engaged a plurality of beams 15 in abutment each with the next beam, the lowermost ofthe beams 15 being received under gravity in the recesses 37.

The discs 32 are rotated through90 dropping the beam 15 received in the recesses 37 onto the lower guide rails 13. The discs then return to their original angular positions and the next beam in the loading station is moved under gravity into the recesses. The end of the lace roll is passed over the lifting member 26 beneath the dropped beam and the lifting member is raised to engage the lace with beam. The rollers 33, 34 are then operated to feed a given amount of lace from the reel 24 and the beam is permitted to slide down the lower guide rails 13 to a stop (not shown). The cycle of releasing a beam onto the lower guide rails raising the lifting member to engage the lace 39 with this beam and then allowing the beam to run down the lower guide rails to abutment with the preceding beam by running off extra lace by operation of the rollers 33, 34 is repeated until all of the beams in the loading station have passed onto the lower guide rails, although the lace on the reel may run out before the operation is completed. The result is that the lace is held in festoons suspended from the beams I5, as indicated in dash lines 38 in FIG. 1. The entire operation may be automatic, using electrically operated devices controlled by a timing mechanism and limit switches.

One of the holders 16 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. Within the channel of the bar 17 of each beam 15 is longitudinally mounted a rod 40. A multiplicity of spring clips are mounted along the rod 40, each spring clip defining a respective holder 16. Each holder comprises length of spring wire bent to define a helical portion 41 engaged with the rod. One end part of the wire defines an abutment 42 which seats against one wall 43 of the channel. The opposite end of the wire defines a loop 45 which is inherently spring-urged against the opposite wall 46 of the channel. As shown in FIG. 2, a length of lace 39 is urged between the nip of the wall 46 and the loop 45 by the lifting member 26. Lowering Referring back to FIG. 1, there are mounted on the frame 11 at opposite sides thereof two carriages 50 vertically reciprocable in roller guides 51 mounted on the frame 1 l. A-screw-jack 52 is provided to effect reciprocation of each carriage, the two screw jacks (only one shown in FIG. 1 and only one carriage being shown) being operable simultaneously. Each carriage has an upper cross member 53 positioned so as to be engageable in the rebates 21 of the beams carried by the lower guide rails 13.

Each upper guide rail 12 is mounted on a bracket 55 pivotally mounted on the frame to pennit arcuate movement of the upper guide rail about a horizontal axis 550 out of the path of the carriage 50 therebelow.

After the lace has been festooned on the beams 15, as described above, the carriages are raised, so as to lift the beams 15 off the lower guide rails 13, whereby the beams are supported on the cross members 53, as shown in H6. 3, at the top of the frame 11. Also as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, there is included a thread removing bar 60 continuously rotatably mounted in the frame and the connecting threads 61 of the lace are manually pulled to initiate removal and are then frictionally engaged with the bar 60 for automatic removal of the threads.

The lace ribbons formed by removal of the connecting threads may be wound onto reels (not shown) at the rear of the machine, opposite to the thread removing bar 60.

The festooned nature of the lace renders it easy for the threads to be removed without great risk of breakage. Further, if a thread does break, this does not prevent the machine from continuing to operate normally on the other threads and the broken threads can easily be found and removed manually.

After the lace ribbons have been wound onto reels, the carriages 50 are lowered together with the beams 15, which are returned to the upper rails 12 for a repeat operation.

We claim:

l. A method of removing connecting threads from a web of multiple strips of lace which comprises drawing lengths of the web from a roll thereof and intermittently gripping the web so as to support the web at a plurality of positions along the length of the web which supporting positions are spaced so that portions of the web are suspended in festoons between the supporting positions and drawing the connecting threads away from the supported lace.

2. Apparatus for removing connecting threads from a web of multiple strips of lace comprising means for drawing lengthsof the web from a roll thereof, a plurality of suspension devices in the form of cross beams each having means thereon for gripping a fold portion of the web, means for supporting said suspension devices for movement relative to said web drawing means, means for engaging the web on transverse lines which are spaced along the length of the web and for moving the same so as to engage spaced fold portions thereof with the gripping means on successive suspension devices as the web is drawn ofi' the roli, said means for supporting said suspension devices permitting movement of said suspension devices to positions so that the web is suspended in festoons from the suspension devices and the connecting threads are accessible and may be drawn away from the festooned web.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said suspension devices are mounted above the path of the drawn off web and said means for engaging the web with said suspension devices is mounted for intermittent vertical movement so as to engage the web from beneath the same and lift a fold portion into engagement with said gripping means on successive suspension devices.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3-wherein said suspension devices are mounted on said supporting means for gravity movement into the path of said means for engaging the web therewith and for movement thereafter to positions for suspending the web portions between said suspension devices in festoons.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gripping means on said suspension devices comprises a plurality of holders arranged along the length of the cross beam and each holder having a spring clip constituting a web gripping means.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said suspension devices comprises an angularly movable member at a loading station adjacent said web engaging means and a pivotally mounted rail member leading to said angularly movable member, said angularly movable member being operable to receive successive suspension devices in a position for loading and upon angular oscillation depositing successive suspension devices upon guide rails for movement away from the loading station.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein there is associated with said guide rails a vertically movable carriage for engaging beneath said suspension devices when they are positioned on said guide rails and means for raising said carriage so as to lift said suspension devices off said guide rails and support the same above .said guide rails.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for drawing off lengths of the web from the roll is operated in synchronism with the movement of said suspension devices.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is provided a rotatably mounted element with which the connecting threads may be engaged and means for rotating said element to draw the connecting threads away from said festooned web.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means fo'rengaging the web on transverse lines comprises a cross member mounted for vertical movement and having a top edge which will engage the web and form a fold therein as it raises the web into engagement with asuspension device.

wig? UNITED S'IA'IES PATENT 01 1 1012 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,813 ,738 Dated June 4 1974 R0 Beet and Barry Skinner It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

an I

ON THE COVER PAGE:

I The inventors are erroneously listed as "Hucknall et a1" and should be --Beet et al--; this appears under "UNITED STATES PATENT";

Inventors: -"Roy Beet Hucknall" should be --Roy Beet-.-;'

"both of Sutton-.in-Ashfield, England" should be 3 'both of Nottinghamshire, England-- IN THE ABSTRACT:

3rd line, "05" should be --so--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A method of removing connecting threads from a web of multiple strips of lace which comprises drawing lengths of the web from a roll thereof and intermittently gripping the web so as to support the web at a plurality of positions along the length of the web which supporting positions are spaced so that portions of the web are suspended in festoons between the supporting positions and drawing the connecting threads away from the supported lace.
 2. Apparatus for removing connecting threads from a web of multiple strips of lace comprising means for drawing lengths of the web from a roll thereof, a plurality of suspension devices in the form of cross beams each having means thereon for gripping a fold portion of the web, means for supporting said suspension devices for movement relative to said web drawing means, means for engaging the web on transverse lines which are spaced along the length of the web and for moving the same so as to engage spaced fold portions thereof with the gripping means on successive suspension devices as the web is drawn off the roll, said means for supporting said suspension devices permitting movement of said suspension devices to positions so that the web is suspended in festoons from the suspension devices and the connecting threads are accessible and may be drawn away from the festooned web.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said suspension devices are mounted above the path of the drawn off web and said means for engaging the web with said suspension devices is mounted for intermittent vertical movement so as to engage the web from beneath the same and lift a fold portion into engagement with said gripping means on successive suspension devices.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said suspension devices are mounted on said supporting means for gravity movement into the path of said means for engaging the web therewith and for movement thereafter to positions for suspending the web portions between said suspension devices in festoons.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gripping means on said suspension devices comprises a plurality of holders arranged along the lEngth of the cross beam and each holder having a spring clip constituting a web gripping means.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said suspension devices comprises an angularly movable member at a loading station adjacent said web engaging means and a pivotally mounted rail member leading to said angularly movable member, said angularly movable member being operable to receive successive suspension devices in a position for loading and upon angular oscillation depositing successive suspension devices upon guide rails for movement away from the loading station.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein there is associated with said guide rails a vertically movable carriage for engaging beneath said suspension devices when they are positioned on said guide rails and means for raising said carriage so as to lift said suspension devices off said guide rails and support the same above said guide rails.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for drawing off lengths of the web from the roll is operated in synchronism with the movement of said suspension devices.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is provided a rotatably mounted element with which the connecting threads may be engaged and means for rotating said element to draw the connecting threads away from said festooned web.
 10. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for engaging the web on transverse lines comprises a cross member mounted for vertical movement and having a top edge which will engage the web and form a fold therein as it raises the web into engagement with a suspension device. 